Demo Gets Nasty Near the Navy Yard
This week’s edition of As The Contractor Trashes is set over near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. A reader who rents an apartment in a four-story building in the area had a rude awakening when a developer recently bought the empty lot next door. Within 24 hours of foundation work beginning, the contractor tore a 5-foot…
This week’s edition of As The Contractor Trashes is set over near the Brooklyn Navy Yard. A reader who rents an apartment in a four-story building in the area had a rude awakening when a developer recently bought the empty lot next door. Within 24 hours of foundation work beginning, the contractor tore a 5-foot gash in the garden level wall of his den, just missing all of his stereo and computer equipment. When the foreman showed up to inspect the damage, it became apparent that he didn’t even know the building had a basement, which was pretty important since they had been planning to put the new foundation’s underpinnings right through the space currently occupied by the washer and dryer. The contractor then admitted to the reader’s landlord over the phone that his crew was not shoring up any part of the existing building. The next day, the contractors dislodged a piece of slate that fell into the pit, exposing the existing building’s insulation and bursting its pipes, which in turn caused cracks to form in the side of the building. Three hours later, inspectors showed up and slapped up a Vacate Order on the reader’s building, which stayed in effect for a week. During this time, the contractors built a retaining wall inside his apartment, blocking access to his stove in the process. Our reader’s question is whether he, the other tenants or the landlord has any legal recourse. Anyone know?
What a nightmare. The fine against the developer and compensation to the tenant should both be enormous.
I can refer an attorney – Anne Marie Bowler (bowler@gabaybowler.com)
Tell them their old coworker Andrew referred you. I highly recommend you consult with an attorney, and I would recommend these two women very highly.
Where is the guy who sneered at the lawyers in the previous posting? Why don’t you repeat it here and see if you find some sympathy?
Check out this site and read the timeline: http://229vs231.com/index2.htm You will see what you may be up against. Also, note the steps that they eventually took which started to bear fruit.
Try to nip this in the bud immediately. Forget the negotiations etc. etc. These guys are clueless and it will only get worse.
Sorry, Amelia, that has not been my experience. The elected officials in my district were able to at least get action when our own calls to 311/DOB got us nowhere. They have returned every phone call we’ve made to them and been, overall, very helpful. (No, I do not work for any of them-just a single homeowner here.) All of their hands are somewhat tied due to the corrupt/inept state of the DOB. The Department needs a complete overhaul. Not all of elected officials are great but I’d be loathe not to use every available resource at my disposal for a problem of this magnitude.
Yes, call the lawyer, insurance company, engineer and inspector. but also know that the reason that the State Assembly and City Council are holding hearings to address the problem is because of the amount of constituents that DID call. A few of these officials have really dedicated themselves to the issue. Unfortunately, change doesn’t usually happen fast enough for those who need it now. The lot next store to me is to be a 6 story condo-I am frustrated with the entire system but I can not say that my elected officials have been ignoring me.
p/s: DOB “ineptitude” is generous. One key quote– but hardly the only important one from Breslin is–
“Many are paid; few are apprehended.”
And, as many of you know, because of term limits, the City Council is more concerned w/their futures than engaging malfeasance in the present. There’s some exceptions but not many & any ONE (many, even) homeowner doesn’t mean shit compared to the $$$ opportunity’s by going along. (Look at the City Council vote on Yankee Stadium deal, for example, & note Letitia James ABSTAINED– why? Why the fuck do you think?)
peace out,
Amelia (Amanda Burden’s Nightmare)
Bullet through the fucking head of the developer is the swiftest– & most apt– form of justice here.
Who here has read Jimmy Breslin “The Short Sweet Dream of Eduardo Gutierrez”?
GET IT NOW, for many reasons.
Also, if you have the energy, contact the press tho’ the Voice is dogshit now. Nobody gives a damb about blogs, for the most part (sorry).
The Post does a better job than anyone at this point on local reporting (they’re national/international stuff is execrable, of course)– contact the city desk, MUCH better chance they’d take interest than the Real Estate Times.
xxoo,
Amelia (Vigilante)
Good Lord. I don’t know what to say. Get a lawyer. If there’s any justice in this world, the contractor should be forced to put everyone up in the Ritz Carlton for the next 5 years.
ooops, anon 10:53 am was moi.
Lost w/o the darn TypeKey function!